No more Physical Therapy!!!

Joy was released from PT in March, but continues to go to Aqua-therapy at least until summertime. We bought her a scooter to celebrate (riding a scooter was encouraged by her therapist and we had been borrowing the neighbor's old beat-up scooter.) Sadly, we had to return the helmet when we noticed it was toddler sized, and they don't make the kitty ones for big kids. Oh well.

Easter Joy

This year on Easter I had to think back to one year ago when Joy was in the ex-fix and her first time going out was for the Easter egg hunt. She arrived in her reclining wheelchair and hunted eggs with a grabber while using her walker. She's come such a long way in one year!!!

4th grade field trip

Today's bus experience is quite different from the "empty "special" bus in 3rd grade.....the 4th grade loaded onto huge fancy tour busses to go to Alabama and visit American Village! She won't get home until after 6 tonight, I can't wait to hear how it was....

Jump for Joy!!

Today we saw Dr. Flanagan and got several x-rays (left ankle too since it's been hurting...it's normal.) The hip is doing well enough that Joy can go down to once a week for physical therapy, and was cleared to run and jump! (Although she said jumping is still the worst thing for Joy's hip, do it as tolerated.)Then we hung out at the hospital, visited the rehab unit, had lunch in the newly remodeled cafeteria, and got to make an amazing gingerbread house in the ZONE!!! I think we were there 5 hours! The hospital is decorated for the holidays, and is quite lovely!

Sleeping brace/pillow

When we heard Joy would have to sleep in her brace for 6 months, I immediately asked for one of these. (The metal/velcro walking brace would have been very hard to sleep in!) Only one and a half more months to go before she's hit the 6 month mark!! Whew! I know she'll be happy to say goodbye to this ritual!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjPTtMAakQ0&feature=youtu.be

Give thanks

Grandpa Tom, his girlfriend Glad and I had Thanksgiving lunch with Joy today at school. She presented me with this lovely card she'd made. Since it mentioned the fixator and her "hip condition" I thought I'd share it here on the Perthes Blog. Such a sweet girl!!!

Perthes follow-up

Today Joy had two appointments. First was in the clinic to see the rehab doctor and show her how well Joy is doing! Then quickly off to orthopedics (carried Joy piggy-back to get there on time, then we waited an hour!!) We saw Dr. Schmitz today since Dr. Flanagan is on maternity leave with her new son! There seems to be a lot of growth on the x-ray, but the head shape is not as round as we'd hoped, more cylindrical. Goes back and forth in the socket well, but rotation is limited. He said Joy's hip will never be normal, but should get her into her 60's before a replacement is necessary! He also said she would never be a professional gymnast. (Not that she was going to be, but she was taking gymnastics classes when she was diagnosed with Perthes.) We'll have to get her on a swim team instead! She's not released to full activity yet (still no running/jumping), but activity as tolerated. We go back in December. Schmitz wouldn't completely rule out further surgery, but I think things are looking pretty good! If not for the external fixator, he said her femoral head would be square!

Last pin care!!

Now that it's been a couple of months since the external fixator was removed, I'm wishing I had taken more videos of Joy when she had it on. Oh well. Here's a video of the last time we had to do pin care before the fixator came off. We had it down to a science by then, Joy was even able to do the top pins herself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfAl4eiyq4U

Sensations TheraFun

Our physical therapist told us about this place, it's right around the corner from them. Took Grandpa Lee with us today as we visited for the first time. She tried everything she could (no jumping on trampolines...) and we stayed about 2 hours. (For 17.00 we had to get our money's worth!) Her favorites were the bikes and the zipline. I liked the quiet room with all the cool light effects. Great PT for Joy! We'll be back!

Aqua Therapy!

Joy is now going every other Friday to aqua therapy!!!! She loves to swim! She got to wear a wet-suit for the first time, I really want to get her one!

Hamster Balls!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcS6eNuZFHI
Joy having fun with her cousin Megan at the fair! (Joy in clear ball, Megan in blue.)

Laser Tag!!

I LOVE this picture of Joy in her laser tag gear!! She played for the first time @ Stars and Strikes after a night of bowling with Karen and Lee. (Sadly we got rear-ended on our way home that night! No fun, but everyone is O.K.! We joked about our real-life bumper car action since the bumper cars were the only thing we hadn't done @ Stars and Strikes!!)

Brace-off sleep-over celebration!

It's been 6 weeks of the Scottish Rite brace, and Joy is brace free!!!! (We see Dr. Flanagan Wednesday to make it official.)Her friends came over for a sleep-over, playing outside, picnic, hot-tub, walk to Brusters, girls rock-band, Wii games, etc. Also my sis-in-law Karen was in town for work, so we had a fun filled weekend with her and Grandpa Lee too!!
More pictures to come, here's the picnic!

Fun Run!

This year at Joy's elementary school they raised money with a Boosterthon Fun Run! Joy rolled (was pushed around....) for 29 laps, then did the 30th on crutches, and walked the victory lap holding my hand! So proud of her!!! School raised over 20,000!!

Joy and Lilly

Our neighbor Virginia's poodle LOVES Joy! They hadn't seen each other all summer!!

Just keep swimming!

Summer is almost officially over, so we're trying to swim as much as possible, since it's GREAT physical therapy for Joy (and she LOVES it!!!) Here are some shots today from our afternoon at Mountain Park Aquatic Center pool. They have two huge waterslides (Joy did BOTH! and crawled up the two flights of stairs....)and a current loop that pushes you round and round. Joy loves it there! Her pin-holes are still pretty obvious....several folks asked what happened to her. Just another opportunity to educate others about LCPD!

X-rays

Here are the latest X-rays (post external fixator removal) next to some pre-fixator x-rays. Interesting to see the holes in the bones left by the pins! Dr. Flanagan is pleased with the placement of the femur in the socket, now we just have to watch and wait for regrowth!

1st day of 4th grade!!

Off she went to school in her brace! She used her walker and the wheelchair today. Stayed for the full day!! Pin-holes closing up nicely!

Hospital visit pics

Here are some shots I got of Joy and ex-fix before and after removal. We did get to keep it!

Two new holes in Joy....

Yup, she got her ears pierced today! The lady who pierced her was named Joyce, but went by Joy. There wasn't a single tear shed, she is such a brave girl!